Costa Concordia memorial plaque lowered into sea

The last piece of rock to be removed from the Costa Concordia was lowered into back into the sea today, complete with a memorial plaque to the 32 victims who died in the disaster last year.

The memorial plaque affixed to the last piece of rock to be removed from the Costa Concordia. Credit: Reuters

Survivors and relatives of the deceased watched from a ferry as workers lowered the stone into the waters off the Italian island of Giglio, where the remains of the wreck still lies.

Workers drop a stone with a plaque into the sea during a ceremony to commemorate the first anniversary of the Costa Concordia tragedy. Credit: Reuters

The ceremony was part of a series of events to mark the first anniversary of the tragedy. A mass was also held for the victims and a minute of silence is scheduled for 9:45pm - the exact time the ship struck rocks last year.